Ride Along - Don't Laugh!

Question 1: Does §392.60 require a driver to carry a copy of the written authorization (required to transport passengers) on board a Commercical Motor Vehicle (CMV)?
Guidance: No, the authorization must be maintained at the carrier's principal place of business. At the discretion of the motor carrier, a driver may also carry a copy of the authorization.


Been asked by DOT or Trooper if you have the "paper" (consent) form? Brother was recently. He has been taking his girlfriend on several occasions, and his boss knew and had no problems with it. This one time, the trooper asked for the paper, AND then called his boss. Boss said it was ok, but that he did not have a consent form. Trooper said "Sign here____"

 

I'd consider but you're outside of my company's lanes.

Sorry. BOL!

 

Hi, summersolstice --

That you wish to get a taste of OTR is laudable, but I think you may have some misconceptions about what is going on here. First, what does "the passenger policy" mean to you? Second, please bear in mind that a ride-along is not team driving. Maybe I'm reading between your lines, but are you saying that you'd be willing to drive (you don't know how yet) and load/unload to help out? (you could not). No carrier's insurance company will allow you to drive or try to, or pay a claim if something happens. Workman's Compensation insurance wouldn't cover you. No driver that I know would jeopardize his/her livelihood by letting you get behind the wheel of the rig he/she is responsible for. You couldn't even get on a dock, throw freight, hook/un-hook, pretrip, fuel the truck, etc.

Here are two rider agreements for you to study:
http://www.meltontruck.com/01-P/payrolldocs/Driver Authorization Pass Request & Release - Adult.pdf
http://www.mcelroytrucklines.com/docs/sharearideprogram.pdf
You can Google "truck passenger unauthorized" or "truck passenger authorization." Lots of results.

Next there is the FMCSA rule on unauthorized passengers in commercial vehicles, a rule that carriers and drivers (company, lease-operators, and owner-operators running under their own authorities) ignore at their own peril. The rule means what it says.

Then there is the matter of becoming authorized, everything you've got to do before that happens, and actually getting the insurance (you'll indemnify the carrier fully and pay for the insurance yourself). You may say that you'll willingly sign the papers, but will they even be offered? Unlikely. Even with insurance, the risks for carrier and driver are considerable--we're talking ferocious liability issues. BTW, you cannot be authorized by a driver ("Yeah, cool. Hop aboard.") pulling for a carrier. Only the carrier can authorize a passenger.

Fortycalglock said and I agree: "You need to find a woman who has her own authority that will let you ride along." That will let you ride along.

Insurance issues aside, many drivers cherish their in-cab solitude and will be unwilling to give it up.

Check out this recent TTR thread:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...new-drivers/160567-is-this-crazy-or-what.html and the books/magazines I listed. The more of this sutff that you're aware of, the easier it will be for you to integrate into the industry. You might also try this link to Women In Trucking: http://www.womenintrucking.org/ It never hurts to ask. Good luck to you.

 

Ha! You're in for a world of hurt if you start carrying passengers without the company's knowledge. See above story of a DOT ticket, for example.

 

I teamed while in CDL training. Hated every minute of it. Took my other half out with me for 3 weeks last year and wasn't bad having her there instead of waiting to get home but still didn't care for it much. Trucks really just aren't big enough for two people and tends to get cramped. There not as big on the inside as they look outside because of cabnets and ####.